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Academy converter · Essex

Hylands School

  • 11–18Ages
  • 614Pupils
  • SecondaryPhase
  • Sixth formAges 16–18
  • 137072URN

Chelmsford Road, Writtle, Chelmsford, CM1 3ET · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school
Latest Ofsted

Category of concern: Special measures

Report card · inspected Feb 2026

  • Exceptional
  • Strong standard
  • Expected standard
  • Needs attention
  • Urgent improvement

Safeguarding standards met

What Ofsted found
Applications per place · Sept 2026
0.6per place
2.2 below Essex median (2.8)
Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in EssexSelective

108 applications for 171 places · 78th of 78 in Essex
Every year since 2014
Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)
40.3of 90
62nd of 79 in Essex
All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Ofsted category of concern: Special measures

Report card · inspected 10 February 2026Published 8 June 2026 · safeguarding standards met · no overall grade
AreaExceptionalStrong standardExpected standardNeeds attentionUrgent improvement
InclusionUrgent improvement
Curriculum and teachingUrgent improvement
AchievementUrgent improvement
Attendance and behaviourNeeds attention
Personal development and wellbeingNeeds attention
Early yearsDoes not apply to this school
Post-16 provisionDoes not apply to this school
Leadership and governanceUrgent improvement
  • Exceptional
  • Strong standard
  • Expected standard
  • Needs attention
  • Urgent improvement
  • Does not apply

Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

Inspection history

  1. 10 February 2026
    Report card · 2 Needs attention, 4 Urgent improvement
  2. 7 June 2023
    Graded inspection: Requires improvement

Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades

About these grades

Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.

How hard is it to get a place?

DfE · Sept 2026 entry
0.6applications per place, Year 7
2.2 below Essex median (2.8) 1.6 below England median (2.2)

108 applications · 171 places offered · 27 named it first

  1. 2026 0.6; Essex median median 2.8
  2. 2025 0.8; Essex median median 2.7
  3. 2024 0.7; Essex median median 2.8
  4. 2023 0.9; Essex median median 2.7
  5. 2022 0.8; Essex median median 2.7
  6. 2021 2.0; Essex median median 2.6
  7. 2020 1.5; Essex median median 2.8
  8. 2019 1.4; Essex median median 2.7
  9. 2018 1.9; Essex median median 2.6
  10. 2017 2.0; Essex median median 2.7
  11. 2016 2.1; Essex median median 2.6
  12. 2015 2.2; Essex median median 2.5
  13. 2014 2.1; Essex median median 2.6
More applications per place than the Essex median in 0 of 13 years.
  • This school
  • Essex median

Year 7 applications for September 2027 close 31 October 2026, through your council

How this is measured

Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.

EntryPlacesApplicationsPer placeFirst preferencesFirst-pref. ratio
Sep 20261711080.6270.16
Sep 20251511150.8360.24
Sep 20241691210.7380.22
Sep 20231481340.9410.28
Sep 20221741420.8660.38
Sep 2021691352.0330.48
Sep 2020891341.5510.57
Sep 20191111561.4520.47
Sep 20181342481.9620.46
Sep 20171563122.0950.61
Sep 20161573262.1970.62
Sep 20151302832.2770.59
Sep 20141543272.1920.60

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

102 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)40.362nd of 79 in Essex
Grade 5 or above in English and maths40%48th of 79 in Essex
Grade 4 or above in English and maths55%
  • This school
  • Essex median
  • England median
Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.86
−20 = national average+2
Every year as a table
YearPupilsAttainment 85+ Eng & maths4+ Eng & mathsProgress 8
2025/26 (prov.)10240.340%55%–
2024/259037.838%54%–
2023/249932.625%40%−0.86
2022/2311535.025%46%−0.89

Progress 8 is not published for 2024/25 or 2025/26: those pupils had no key stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021.

Schools nearby

The 8 nearest secondary schools in a straight line, in any local authority

  • Exceptional
  • Strong standard
  • Expected standard
  • Needs attention
  • Urgent improvement
  • Does not apply

Eight dots, one per area: inclusion, curriculum, achievement, attendance, personal development, early years, post-16, leadership. Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

School details

Type
Academy converter
Phase
Secondary
URN · DfE number
137072 · 881/5455
Trust
The Kemnal Academies Trust
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Capacity
1,100 pupils · 614 on roll
Free school meals
45.2% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened
1 August 2011
Replaced
Hylands School (URN 115371)
Address
Chelmsford Road, Writtle, Chelmsford, CM1 3ET
Local authority
Essex · Chelmsford

Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources